Beyond recognition for its lovely architecture and the fact that it has stood virtually intact for more than 100 years, there is an even more compelling reason for acknowledging the landmark house at 50 Marion Avenue in Stapleton Heights: It was designed by the dean of Staten Island architects, James Whitford, Sr.

Whitford, the second of three generations of architects who lived and worked on Staten Island, was born in Port Richmond in 1871, the son of an emigrant-architect father. The younger Whitford received his architectural training in his father’s offices and practiced his craft successfully for more than 50 years.

James Whitford II — known as James Sr. — worked in all areas of the Island, designing both private dwellings and commercial buildings. He eventually worked on structures on Long Island, New Jersey, Virginia and Ohio, and as far away as South Africa.

IMPRESSIVE COMMISSIONS

Among the architect’s more impressive Staten Island commissions were the Ritz Theater and the Masonic Temple, now home to the CYO; both buildings still stand in Port Richmond.

The imposing home Whitford designed on Marion Avenue for Howard and Mildred Miller is a two-and-one-half story, Neo-Colonial dwelling, a wood-frame structure completely covered in wood shingles, as was the style when it was built circa 1909.

In the closed gable at the front of the home an oval window brings a truly Colonial note to the home's exterior.

Four bays wide with a grand wraparound porch, the structure’s main facade faces Pommer Avenue; in fact, it also is known as “the 44-46 Pommer Avenue home.”

The base of the porch is covered in wood shingles, while graceful tapered columns support its roof. The bay at the entrance to the porch is topped with an open pediment. This bay leads to the stunning entrance doors: wood paneled and glass, with carved pilasters at the side.

On this facade, the second story features a pair of bay windows. Above this, on the central mass, Whitford included a projecting dormer. One of the more interesting characteristics of the home is its complicated hipped roof, surely the work of a master architect in the prime of his career.

The roof features flared eaves, hipped and gabled dormers and a closed gable with an oval window that features a keystone and geometrical sash. Each of the home’s facades is as interesting as the one before; the west facade features a secondary entrance to the home.

At the time Whitford designed this house, there still were a few remaining undeveloped lots in the prestigious Stapleton Heights-Mud Lane neighborhood. Many of the homes built early in the 20th century were designed in the prevailing Arts and Crafts and Neo-Colonial styles and many survive there to this day.

Whitford was responsible for the designs of literally hundreds of buildings across the Island. As previously mentioned, he designed the Ritz Theater, as well as the Liberty and Victory theaters, none of which today function as movie palaces.

Only one of the theaters with which he was involved on the Island is open to the public as an entertainment venue: Whitford served as an assistant architect on designs for the St. George Theater, the main architect of which was Eugene DeRosa.

PUBLIC BUILDINGS

Among other public buildings designed byWhitford are the 120th and 123rd Police Precincts, the glorious Faith United Methodist Church on Heberton Avenue in Port Richmond and the imposing Richmond County Savings Bank on Castleton Avenue in West Brighton. Many of the more beautiful homes along Westerleigh’s College Avenue can be attributed to this master architect as well.

In the central bay of the front porch, framed by tapered classical columns, the angled entry is enhanced with fluted pilasters and a Colonial-styled multi-paned door.

Interestingly, the AIA Guide to New York City includes the following listing:120th Precinct, NYC Police Department/originally 66th precinct/Borough Police Headquarters/ 78 Richmond Terr., NW corner Wall Street 1922. James Whitford, Sr. A bland Italian Renaissance palazzo, pale in comparison with Whitford’s gutsy police station in Tottenville.

There are many of us who would disagree with that review of the St. George precinct, recognizing grace and restraint in its facade.

<RR>One of the architectural tragedies to befall a Whitford-designed building was the New Brighton Village Hall, which had been designed by Whitford Sr.’s father in 1881. After years of neglect and lawsuits by the city against the owners, the building was demolished.Thank goodness most of the output of this father-son-son Island architectural dynasty still stands.

A wonderful stone veneer on the homeâs foundation coupled with original wood shingles and historicaly-inspired details shout that Whitfordâs design pays homage to the Colonial era in America.

LEGACY LIVES ON

James Whitford Sr. died at his home in Westerleigh in 1947, at 76 years of age. His legacy lives on in the Stapelton Heights-Mud Lane historic district, with no fewer than eight of his buildings protected with a New York City Landmark designation, including the home he designed for the Millers at 50 Marion Avenue.

A most gracious presence in a neighborhood filled to capacity with gracious dwellings, this grand home’s pedigree might just be a tad more significant, seeing as it was designed by the acknowledged dean of Staten Island architects.

Present, Past, Future appears on the last Friday of the month in Home. Marjorie Decker Johnson assists in researching the history of properties featured in the column.